State Trading

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 11

State Trading

Sir, —We were rather interested in the letter of your correspondent, John Tucker, in reference to Mr. H. F. Johnston’s address on State Trading. The letter, amid some confusion of thought in the first paragraph, states that men undertaking to lead public opinion should be free and unprejudiced in thinking (which your correspondent obviously is not), and should give some constructive ideas.

Mr. Tucker may not be aware that Mr. Johnston examined the question from every angle, and, in fact, designated his address, “National Efficiency.” Like Mr. Johnston, we are convinced that -the State is inherently unable to undertake ventures in which initiative, courage, foresight, and personal application are necessary, in other words, private enterprise. We do not propose to argue this subject with Mr. Tucker, however; we prefer to leave it to the good judgment of your readers, and the overwhelming body of public opinion which is swinging in this direction more surely than ever. However, w«i would point out -to your correspondent that we, as self-respecting citizens, do not believe that our own efforts will 'be so hopeless that we will require an omniscient Government to assure ‘‘the human claim and divine prerogative of the -race to a right to live and develop man and God-ward.” Again, Governments have come and gone for centuries, and if such a programme was left in the hands of any Government would Mr. Tucker guarantee that the results would be any more successful than what he considers has been bo misguidedly done to date.

Finally, that great light of Socialism, Russia, has shown in no uncertain manner that Christianity in their eyes is “the opium of the people.” The greatest exploiters of the working classes are those who, for their own ends, mislead them with gaudy promises pernicious propaganda, and spurious sympathy. We have sufficient evidence of this to convince us where the true welfare of the people rests. —We are, etc., THE REFORM UNION.